Michigan Golf Journal May 2021

Michigan Golf Journal Course Rater Confidential After Crystal Downs and Oakland Hills, the highest- rated Michigan courses in GOLF Magazine’s rankings, what’s the best course in the state and why? Ran Morrissett (Architecture Editor): Michigan is stacked with great golf, both from the Golden Age and from the Modern Age. Narrowing it down to one is brutal, but when in doubt, I tend to side with the course that promotes ‘bouncy-bounce’ golf, which would be The Kingsley Club an d its fescue playing surfaces. The ball releases more across its fairways and greens than the great parkland courses around Detroit. ( Note : two more panelists also listed Kingsley Club for this question.) What’s the best public course in Michigan and why? Morrissett : Stoatin Brae i s just west of Battle Creek, Mich., but because of its openness, you might think you are playing a heathland course outside of London. The stretch of holes from 10-15 is crazy good, and the course costs well under $100 to play. The quiet, relaxed vibe is a real plus too. Steve Lapper (Panelist since 2009; has played 84 of the Top 100): I’ll stick my neck out and nominate Arcadia Bluffs . Blessed with an Course Rater Confidential: The Best Private, Public and Sleeper Courses in Michigan The following excerpts come from selected panelists of GOLF Magazine golf course evaluators, from 2020. Used with permission of GOLF.com Stoatin Brae